Speaking at Computex, Microsoft VP for the OEM Division Steven
Guggenheimer pointed out that it was still too early to say whether
tablets will become a unique market segment. Guggenheimer reiterated
Microsoft's position on non-Intel architectures, saying that the
company would not offer new Windows versions for x86-less environments.

Guggenheimer stressed that the creation of an entirely new market
segment is not an easy task. He pointed out that an entire industry
supply chain and a supporting software environment are needed for new
concepts to take off. Guggenheimer recalled the immense growth in the
netbook market as an example. Once the initial fad gradually wore off,
consumers lost quite a bit of interest and growth in the netbook
segment has slumped over recent months.

Mind you, netbooks were and still are quite a bit easier to develop and
market than tablets. Unlike tablets, netbooks use x86 chips such as
Intel's Atom and they run trimmed down versions of existing desktop
operating systems.